Editor’s note: This is the second in an ongoing series of stories on first-year teacher Kristen Henderson. From time to time, we will stop in, visit with her and let her share her experiences in the classroom.

Kristen Henderson teaches kindergarten at Sequoyah Elementary School in Russellville. She is a first-year teacher who graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 2012.

Henderson is preparing for her first parent-teacher conferences, which are scheduled for Tuesday.

“It’s my first chance to sit down and one-on-one discuss their child with them,” she said. “It’s my chance to show them where their child is academically and show them samples of their work. I’m looking forward to it.”

In the past couple of months, Henderson has conquered a lot of firsts — grandparent’s day, school assembly, class flu shots and field trip.

Henderson’s class was part of the 104 kindergarten students who went to the Pumpkin Patch in Clarksville earlier this month.

“It was really fun,” Henderson said. “They learned about pumpkins and went through the maze. Everybody got a pumpkin to take home and we had lunch at the City Park. For a lot of the kids, it was their first time on a school bus. A lot of parents came on the trip, which really helps.”

Henderson said the first nine weeks of school are usually spent acclimating the kids to school and going over procedures, especially in kindergarten.

Now, she said, they’re learning reading, writing and math.

“I’ve been a teacher all year, but this is when we really buckle down,” she said. “No more easing in; we’re there. Most people think kindergartners can’t do multiplication and division, but they can. You’d be surprised what they can do. As long as you give them time, they can do it.”

Henderson said parents are important in their child’s education.

“The school day doesn’t end for teachers or students when the bell rings,” she said. “Kids need to practice spelling words and do homework packages. Parents and teachers are partners in their education.”